Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-12-22
CRAWLING MICHIGAN

| ran away from home In company with McComb
and George Lawrence, and she aad Lawrence
were married at Beloit, Wis, before coming TO
| in Ottumwa on March "a, 1860. During their
stay tho conversation Of the two men wos far
from friendly toward the young woman. The
next day they went to Eddyyille, where the
same treatment OF the woman was noticed.
Leaving Eddyville the next day, nothing
definite was heard Of them until the following
morning, whom the body OF the woman
was found in the river below the ford.
IL was certain that murder had been commit
ted. Four months after the body of a man was
found in Copperas Creek. about four miles east
OF Ottumwa. Investigation proved IL TO be the
body OF George Lawrence husband Of the muir
disclosure Of a solitary clue TO the location OF
McComb, but finally in the spring OF l6 he
was recognized by young soldier from Rock
ford, stationed at Camp Mcclellan, at Daven-
port was placed under arrest March e. and
taken to Ottumwa, where his trial resulted In a
verdict OF guilty june IA following. The court
decided that he should be hanged July n. but
the case having gone to the Supreme Court the
execution was postponed. A great many people
assembled, however, ON the date mentioned,
and, gathering around the jail, soon be-
came noisy and demonstrative, apparently pos
sessing all the elements OF mob. Finally the
question OF hanging was submitted to vote,
was made for tho Jail door aud the prisoner was
brought out He asked for an hour to prepare
for death, and it was given him. He was taken
into the Catholic Church and baptized, after
which the mob took him In charge. There were
no lamp posts in Ottumwa in those days. and
consequently no convenient place TO hang him.
He was finally placed in a wagon driven q mile
east Of town, rope put around his neck, il was
thrown over a bent tree, and the mob were
about to carry out their desi IN when McComb
asked the privilege OF making a speech which
was granted He protested his innocence,
offered to prove that George Lawrence was still
living, and that he did not murder Laura j.
Harvey. At this point a cry was raised all
through the crowd. take him back I" others
yelling Hang him" Then a short struggle for
the possession OF the rope ensued, when some
one called out, Cut it" This :, s Immediately
done, and the prisoner rescued from the hands
OF the mob, placed in a wagon, driven rapidly
to town and placed in jail. On the night Of
Aug. "a McComb escaped from confinement by
means Of Offering the Sherif's 11-year-old boy
large sum OF money to induce him
to unlock the cell door, so that he had
nothing to do but to walk out The
Sheriff was absent at the time. August ~ he
was recaptured al out fifteen miles from OF
tumwa and on the 31st another mob gathered.
But this time the Sheriff was prepared, and
the jail strongly guarded by the military. Con-
sequently the mob dispersed. McCombs case
was heard by the Supreme Court in the follow
ing December and tho judgment of the lower
court was affirmed. This necessitated the Ak
ing of a day of execution by the Governor, and
Feb. ~, 1865, was named. The death warrant
III oulo cuno 10 the only loonnaant tho kind on
file In the State archives. The return made
thereon by the Sheriff shows that 1t was duly
executed.